Identification of discrete-time MIMO systems using a class of observable canonical-form

Presents an identification algorithm for a discrete-time multi-input multi-output (MIMO) deterministic system. The proposed identification algorithm, which is based on calculating a matrix fraction description from available input-output data, can be considered as a version of the recently-developed subspace model identification schemes. The system to be identified is represented using a special class of observable canonical form which has the property that all its observability indices are equal. The observable canonical form used is convenient in the sense that it makes the identification problem of the MIMO systems very similar to that of single-input single-output (SISO) systems. The theoretical developments are verified through the use of the proposed algorithm to identify a minimal-order state-space model of a boiler used in the petroleum industry in Kuwait